Norm Smith Medallist

If North had moved to the Gold Coast back in 2009, I dare say we would already have a AFL team based in Tasmania. We know the AFL had western Sydney in their sights for expansion back around the time they offered North the opportunity to relocate to the Gold Coast and I don't think it would have taken long for the league to realise the introduction of an 18th team would increase their TV rights deal.

The AFL didn't get the outcome they wanted back then. We know that. But you'd be foolish to think they won't try again under a new administration.

Hall of Famer

If North had moved to the Gold Coast back in 2009, I dare say we would already have a AFL team based in Tasmania. We know the AFL had western Sydney in their sights for expansion back around the time they offered North the opportunity to relocate to the Gold Coast and I don't think it would have taken long for the league to realise the introduction of an 18th team would increase their TV rights deal.

The AFL didn't get the outcome they wanted back then. We know that. But you'd be foolish to think they won't try again under a new administration.

Lol, if they failed to get North back in 2007 under the circumstances, what hope would they have now or in the near future. North's been around for 100+ years, if Essendon and the AFL didn't kill North, nothing will.

Brownlow Medallist

Lol, if they failed to get North back in 2007 under the circumstances, what hope would they have now or in the near future. North's been around for 100+ years, if Essendon and the AFL didn't kill North, nothing will.

Club Legend

The time was the 90's for a team in Tasmania, i sure their were bids made during that decade that were considered and certainly unlike today we wouldn't have the against argument with the metrics that the AFL and people keep saying (corporate sponsorship, tv ratings), certainly a missed opportunity for the league.

Norm Smith Medallist

Lol, if they failed to get North back in 2007 under the circumstances, what hope would they have now or in the near future. North's been around for 100+ years, if Essendon and the AFL didn't kill North, nothing will.

It's got nothing to do with the AFL. That's up to Hawthorn and the Tasmanian government if they wish the agreement between them to continue. It's no different to Richmond's sponsorship with Jeep. At least the Hawks were able to give Tasmania some AFL football, that's more than the AFL have done.

Premium Platinum

It's got nothing to do with the AFL. That's up to Hawthorn and the Tasmanian government if they wish the agreement between them to continue. It's no different to Richmond's sponsorship with Jeep. At least the Hawks were able to give Tasmania some AFL football, that's more than the AFL have done.

Brownlow Medallist

Lol, if they failed to get North back in 2007 under the circumstances, what hope would they have now or in the near future. North's been around for 100+ years, if Essendon and the AFL didn't kill North, nothing will.

They made an offer and it was rejected. If they wanted North out after that they would have reduced financial distributions in line with many other clubs and the club would have lasted about 3 years before insolvency. Instead they remained high on the list of clubs that received additional millions. That is by far the main reason why the club still exists.
The victim narrative simply doesn't apply here.

Hall of Famer

They made an offer and it was rejected. If they wanted North out after that they would have reduced financial distributions in line with many other clubs and the club would have lasted about 3 years before insolvency. Instead they remained high on the list of clubs that received additional millions. That is by far the main reason why the club still exists.
The victim narrative simply doesn't apply here.

Because cutting fund is a realistic option, past, present or future. Trying to ship a club off is the next best thing they could realistically do in their power and they really tried hard. It’s not a narrative if it’s a simple fact. Cutting funding to a club would set a bloody big precedent for other clubs and it exists, as a notion, in the realms of pure fantasy.

Brownlow Medallist

Because cutting fund is a realistic option, past, present or future. Trying to ship a club off is the next best thing they could realistically do in their power and they really tried hard. It’s not a narrative if it’s a simple fact. Cutting funding to a club would set a bloody big precedent for other clubs and it exists, as a notion, in the realms of pure fantasy.

Rubbish. Distributions go up and down to clubs all the time. They're entirely discretionary on the AFL's will. If they really held a grudge North would be gone.
If the AFL gave North the base it would simply put them in line with lots of other clubs. But about $4 million worse off than now.

Hall of Famer

Rubbish. Distributions go up and down to clubs all the time. They're entirely discretionary on the AFL's will. If they really held a grudge North would be gone.
If the AFL gave North the base it would simply put them in line with lots of other clubs. But about $4 million worse off than now.

Sure they go up and down, but enough to slowly destroy a club or to 'put them back into line'? Even you don't believe that garbage. I've only seen this threat of reducing payments from BF posters, now I wonder why that is...

The fact remains, they tried their hardest to shift North, which would have effectively killed the club and its identity. Pretty simple.

If you don't agree, that's fine, so let's just agree to disagree and move on.

Brownlow Medallist

Because cutting fund is a realistic option, past, present or future. Trying to ship a club off is the next best thing they could realistically do in their power and they really tried hard. It’s not a narrative if it’s a simple fact. Cutting funding to a club would set a bloody big precedent for other clubs and it exists, as a notion, in the realms of pure fantasy.

Brownlow Medallist

Sure they go up and down, but enough to slowly destroy a club or to 'put them back into line'? Even you don't believe that garbage. I've only seen this threat of reducing payments from BF posters, now I wonder why that is...

The fact remains, they tried their hardest to shift North, which would have effectively killed the club and its identity. Pretty simple.

If you don't agree, that's fine, so let's just agree to disagree and move on.

Norm Smith Medallist

No surprise to see North selling another home game to Hobart for 2019. Things are progressing the way the AFL would like. Right now it's a 7-4 arrangement in favour of games in Melbourne but the league would like North to flip that in a few years.

Next move involves the Kangas overtaking Hawthorn's Launceston contract and securing 7-8 home games in Tasmania annually.